Tag: A Serious man

The Top 21 Movies of the 21st Century……So Far!

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It’s one thing to come up with a list of the best movies in any given year, but the best movies of a century that’s just in its 16th year? We Are Movie Geeks polled a group of 30 carefully-selected (and mostly St. Louis-based) movie critics, movie bloggers, movie academics, movie promoters, and just plain old movie fans and asked for a list, in order of preference, of their Top Ten Favorite Films so far this century. Somewhere among the endless superhero blockbusters, franchise reboots, and sequels, some really great movies have come out in the last 16 years. And some of them were indeed superhero blockbusters, franchise reboots, and sequels! The 21st century has another 84 years to go, and there’s no doubt that these choices will change as the years go by, but since it’s doubtful any of those polled will be around when the century ends (unless Stephen Tronicek – born in 1999 – makes it to 101), we might as well do this now. To come up with our top 21, a super-scientific algorithm was generated….just kidding! We simply scored each movie based on its rank in any given list. If a movie was #1 on any list, it received 10 points, #2 received 9 points, and so on (a movie ranked #10 received 1 point – get it?). Of course, all of these lists are highly subjective and some favorite titles will be omitted, so prepare to argue with the selections of these 30 film buffs (and yes, we’re naming names!).

HERE ARE THE RESULTS!:

21. GLADIATOR (2000 – Ridley Scott)

20. UP (2009 – Pete Docter)

19. THE LEGO MOVIE (2014 – Phil Lord)

18. NO COUNTRY FOR OLD MEN (2007 – The Coen Brothers)

17. 12 YEARS A SLAVE (2013 – Steve McQueen)

16. THE REVENENT (2015 – Alejandro Innaritu)

15. INSIDE OUT (2015 – Pete Docter)

14. ETERNAL SUNSHINE OF THE SPOLESS MIND (2004 – Michel Gondry)

13. O BROTHER WHERE ART THOU? (2000 – The Coen Brothers)

12. INGLOURIOUS BASTERDS (2009 – Quentin Tarantino)

11. THE AVIATOR (2004 – Martin Scorsese)

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10. SYNECEDOCHE, NEW YORK (2008 – Charlie Kaufmann)

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9. MEMENTO (2000 – Christopher Nolan)

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8. THE ROYAL TENENBAUMS  (2001 – Wes Anderson)

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7. BOYHOOD (2014 – Richard Linklater)

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6. LORD OF THE RINGS  RETURN OF THE KING (2003 – Peter Jackson)

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5. THE DEPARTED (2006 – Martin Scorsese)

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4. MAD MAX FURY ROAD (2015 – George Miller)

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3. PAN’S LABYRINTH (2006 – Guillermo Del Toro)

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2. THERE WILL BE BLOOD  (2007 – Paul Thomas Anderson)

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1. MULHOLLAND DRIVE  (2001 – David Lynch)

Directors Martin Scorsese and the Coen Brothers each had two films on this list, as did writer Charlie Kaufman and Pixar director Pete Docter. Nothing from beloved directors Clint Eastwood, Ang Lee, Darren Aronofsky, Woody Allen, Cameron Crowe, Alexander Payne or David Fincher, but the all of them were well-represented on the individual lists, all of which are presented here:

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 Tom Stockman  (We Are Movie Geeks)

10. THE AMERICAN (Anton Corbijn)

9. BLUE JASMINE (Woody Allen)

8. GRAN TORINO (Clint Eastwood)

7. THE DEVIL’S REJECTS (Rob Zombie)

6. CITY OF GOD (Fernando Meirelles)

5. LETTERS FROM IWO JIMA (Clint Eastwood)

4. APOCALYPTO (Mel Gibson)

3. INGLORIOUS BASTERDS (Quentin Tarantino)

2. LIFE OF PI (Ang Lee)

1. MAD MAX FURY ROAD (George Miller)

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Andrew Wyatt   (St. Louis Magazine, Gateway Cinephile)

10. UNDER THE SKIN (Jonathan Glazer)

9. THE TURIN HORSE (Bela Tarr)

8. OF TIME AND THE CITY (Terence Davies)

7. ZODIAC (David Fincher)

6. CERTIFIED COPY (Abbas Klarostami)

5. THE ASSASSINATION OF JESSE JAMES BY THE COWARD ROBERT FORD (Andrew Dominik)

4. INLAND EMPIRE (David Lynch)

3. THE MASTER (Paul Thomas Anderson)

2. SYNECDOCHE NEW YORK (Charlie Kaufman)

1. CACHE (Michael Hanake)

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Stephen Tronicek   (FilmAnalyst)

10, ETERNAL SUNSHINE OF THE SPOTLESS MIND (Michel Gondry)

9. BIRDMAN (Alejandro Innaritu)

8. CLOUD ATLAS (Tom Twyker, The Wachowski Brothers)

7. UP (Pete Docter)

6. A SERIOUS MAN (the Coen Brothers)

5. INTO THE WILD (Sean Penn)

4. REQUIEM FOR A DREAM (Darren Aronofsky)

3. PANS LABYRINTH (Guillermo Del Toro)

2. ALMOST FAMOUS (Cameron Crowe)

1. BOYHOOD (Richard Linklater)

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Dana Jung

10. SIN CITY (Robert Rodriguez, Frank Miller)

9. THIS IS THE END (Evan Goldberg)

8. AVATAR (James Cameron)

7. DISTRICT 9 (Neill Blomkamp)

6. APOCALYPTO (Mel Gibson)

5. MULHOLLAND DRIVE (David Lynch)

4. HUGO (Martin Scorsese)

3. INSIDE OUT (Pete Docter)

2. MAD MAX FURY ROAD (George Miler)

1. LORD OF THE RINGS RETURN OF THE KING (Peter Jackson)

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Mathew DeKinder   (Suburban Journals of St. Louis)

10. THE HURT LOCKER (Kathryn Bigelow)

9. THE TREE OF LIFE (Terence Malick)

8. MAD MAX FURY ROAD ROAD (George Miller)

7. ROAD TO PERDITION (Sam Mendes)

6. THE DARK KNIGHT (Christopher Nolan)

5. INGLORIOUS BASTARDS (Quentin Tarantino)

4. ANCHORMAN (Adam McKay)

3. LORD OF THE RINGS RETURN OF THE KING (Peter Jackson)

2. THERE WILL BE BLOOD (Paul Thomas Anderson)

1. 12 YEARS A SLAVE (Steve McQueen)

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Jim Batts   (We Are Movie Geeks)

10. KILL BILL (Quentin Tarantino)

9. THE ARTIST (Michel Hazanavicius)

8. THE 40-YEAR-OLD VIRGIN (Judd Apatow)

7. CAPTAIN AMERICA THE FIRST AVENGER (Joe Johnston)

6. AMERICAN SPLENDOR (Shari Springer Berman)

5. LORD OF THE RINGS RETURN OF THE KING  (Peter Jackson)

4. GHOST WORLD (terry Zwigoff)

3. THE INCREDIBLES (Brad Bird)

2. SPIDERMAN 2 (Sam Raimi)

1. PANS LABYRINTH (Guillermo Del Toro)

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 Lynn Venhaus   ( Belleville News-Democrat, Webster-Kirkwood Times)

10. (500) DAYS OF SUMMER (Marc Webb)

9. NEBRASKA (Alexander Payne)

8. 28 DAYS LATER… (Danny Boyle)

7. INSIDE OUT (Pete Docter)

6. THE DEPARTED (Martin Scorsese)

5. BOYHOOD (Richard Linklater)

4. THE ROYAL TENENBAUMS (Wes Anderson)

3. THE SOCIAL NETWORK (David Fincher)

2. THE DARK KNIGHT (Christopher Nolan)

1. MULHOLLAND DRIVE (David Lynch)

THE REVENANT Copyright © 2016 Twentieth Century Fox Film Corporation. All rights reserved. THE REVENANT Motion Picture Copyright © 2016 Regency Entertainment (USA), Inc. and Monarchy Enterprises S.a.r.l. All rights reserved.Not for sale or duplication.

Kent Tentschert   (Webster-Kirkwood Times)

10. THE DESCENDANTS (Alexander Payne)

9. THE DARK KNIGHT (Christopher Nolan)

8. BIUTIFUL (Alejandro Innaritu)

7. UP (Pete Docter)

6. THE READER (Stephen Daldry)

5. NIGHTCRAWLER (Dan Gilroy)

4. INCEPTION (Christopher Nolan)

3. THE PRESTIGE (Christopher Nolan)

2. GLADIATOR (Ridley Scott)

1. THE REVENANT (Alejandro Innaritu)

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Rob Garica  (HEC-TV)

10. THE TREE OF LIFE (Terence Malick)

9. OVERNIGHT (Tony Montana)

8. BAMBOOZLED (Spike Lee)

7. NO COUNTRY FOR OLD MAN (The Coen Bothers)

6. THE DEPARTED (Martin Scorsese)

5. CITY OF GOD (Fernanso Meirelles)

4. LET THE RIGHT ONE IN (Tomas Alfredson)

3. TALK TO HER (Pedro Almodovar)

2. PANS LABYRINTH (Guillermo Del Toro)

1. MULHOLLAND DRIVE (David Lynch)

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Sam Smucker  

10. WINTER SLEEP (Nuri Ceylan)

9. IN THE MOOD FOR LOVE (Kar Wai Wong)

8. LORD OF THE RINGS RETURN OF THE KING (Peter Jackson)

7. BEASTS OF THE SOUTHERN WILD (Benh Zeitlin)

6. BLUE IS THE WARMEST COLOR (Abdellatif Kechiche)

5. CROUCHING TIGER HIDDEN DRAGON (Ang Lee)

4. THE LOOK OF SILENCE (Joshua Oppenheimer)

3. THE PAST (Asghar Farhadi)

2. SILENT LIGHT (Carlos Reygadas)

1. BOYHOOD (Richard Linklater)

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Robert Hunt   (The Riverfront Times)

10. AMERICAN SNIPER (Clint Eastwood)

9. PANS LABYRINTH (Guilermo del Toro)

8. THE TRIP (Michael Winterbottom)

7. SITA SINGS THE BLUES  (Nina Paley)

6. NOTRE MUSIQUE (Jean-Luc Godard)

5. 2046  (Wong Kar-Wai)

4. WHAT TIME IS IT THERE? (Ming-Liang Tsai)

3. I’M NOT THERE (Todd Haynes)

2. WENDY AND LUCY  (Kelly Reichardt)

1. CARLOS (Oliver Assayas)

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Sam Moffitt  

10. OH BROTHER WHERE ART THOUGH? (The Coen Brothers)

9. WHIP IT! (Drew Barrymore)

8. THE BABADOOK (Jennifer Kent)

7. MEMENTO (Christopher Nolan)

6. SLITHER (James Gunn)

5. THERE WILL BE BLOOD (Paul Thomas Anderson)

4. BLACK SNAKE MOAN (Craig Brewer)

3. MOON (Duncan Jones)

2. DRIVE (Nicolas Winding Refn)

1. SYNECDOCHE NEW YORK (Charlie Kaufman)

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Michael Haffner   (We Are Movie Geeks)

10. THE TREE OF LIFE (Terence Malick)

9. DRIVE (Nicolas Winding Refn)

8. IN BRUGES (Martin McDonagh)

7. LOST IN TRANSLATION (Sophia Coppola)

6. BOYHOOD (Richard Linklater)

5. ETERNAL SUNSHINE OF THE SPOTLESS MIND (Michael Gondry)

4. MAD MAX FURY ROAD (George Miller)

3. THE ROYAL TENENBAUMS (Wes Anderson)

2. MULHOLLAND DRIVE (David Lynch)

1. THERE WILL BE BLOOD (Paul Thomas Anderson)

No Merchandising. Editorial Use Only Mandatory Credit: Photo by c.Miramax/Everett / Rex Features ( 508110r ) 'THE AVIATOR', Leonardo Dicaprio 'THE AVIATOR' FILM STILLS - 2004

Renee Hirshfield   (Webster University, Southwestern Illinois College)

10. AMERICAN SPLENDOR  (Shari Springer Berman)

9. AMELIE (Jean-Pierre Jeunet)

8. TALK TO HER (Pedro Almodovar)

7. HUGO (Martin Scorsese)

6. INSIDE OUT (Pete Docter)

5. EX MACHINA (Alex Garland)

4. CAPTURING THE FRIEDMANS (Andrew Jarecki)

3. INTERSTELLAR (Christopher Nolan)

2. THE ROYAL TENENBAUMS (Wes Anderson)

1. THE AVIATOR (Martin Scorsese)

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Sarah Hirshfield   (Mount Holyoke College)

10. MONEYBALL (Bennett Miller)

9. ELEPHANT (Gus Van Sandt)

8. SNOWPIERCER (Bong Joon Ho)

7. A GIRL WALKS HOME ALONE AT NIGHT (Ana Lily Amirpour)

6. 4 MONTHS 2 WEEKS AND 3 DAYS (Cristian Mungiu)

5. SUPER 8 (J.J. Abrams)

4. INSIDE OUT (Pete Docter)

3. EX MACHINA (Alex Garland)

2. PANS LABYRINTH (Guillermo Del Toro)

1. THE SOCIAL NETWORK (Davis Fincher)

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Kathy Kaiser   (Matinee Chat)

10. INGLOURIOUS BASTERDS (Quentin Tarantino)

9. PIRATES OF THE CARIBBEAN CURSE OF THE BLACK PEARL (Gore Verbinski)

8. DJANGO UNCHAINED (Quentin Tarantino)

7. IRON MAN (John Favreau)

6. CAST AWAY (Robert Zemeckis)

5. THE IMITATION GAME (Morten Tyldum)

4. THE REVENANT (Alejandro Innaritu)

3. THE DEPARTED (Martin Scorsese)

2. THE AVIATOR (Martin Scorsese)

1. 12 YEARS A SLAVE (Steve McQueen)

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Melissa Thompson   (We Are Movie Geeks)

10. BILLY ELLIOT (Stephen Daldry)

9. A MIGHTY WIND (Christopher Guest)

8. FANTASTIC MR. FOX  (Wes Anderson)

7. HAIRSPRAY (Adam Shankman)

6. ELF (John Favreau)

5. SPIRITED AWAY (Hayao Miyazaki)

4. PIRATES OF THE CARIBBEAN CURSE OF THE BLACK PEARL (Gore Verbinski)

3. MIDNIGHT IN PARIS (Woody Allen)

2. MOULIN ROUGE! (Baz Luhrmann)

1. LADY IN THE WATER (M. Night Shyamalan)

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Pete Timmerman   (Webster University)

10. THE ROYAL TENENBAUMS (Wes Anderson)

9. ADAPTATION (Spike Jonze)

8. REQUIEM FOR A DREAM (Darren Aronofsky)

7. PUNCH DRUNK LOVE (Paul Thomas Anderson)

6. CHILDREN OF MEN (Alfonso Cuaron)

5. TROPICAL MALADY (Apichatpong Weerasethakul)

4. THE ACT OF KILLING (Joshua Oppenheimer)

3. DOGTOOTH (Yorgos Lanthimos)

2. EVERYTHING WILL BE OK (Don Hertzfeldt)

2. IN THE MOOD FOR LOVE (Wong Kar Wai)

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Michelle McCue  (We Are Movie Geeks)

10. GRAVITY (Alfonso Cuaron)

9. FANTASTIC MR. FOX  (Wes Anderson)

8. AN EDUCATION (Lone Scherfig)

7. THE LADY IN THE WATER (M. Night Shyamalan)

6. THE HURT LOCKER (Kathryn Bigelow)

5. ROAD TO PERDITION (Sam Mendes)

4. THE LORD OF THE RINGS FELLOWSHIP OF THE RING (Peter Jackson)

3. LOST IN TRANSLATION (Sofia Coppola)

2. MOON (Duncan Jones)

1. GLADIATOR (Ridley Scott)

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Tim Venhaus  

10. THE MASTER (Paul Thomas Anderson)

9. SUPERBAD (Greg Mottola)

8. KILL BILL (Quentin Tarantino)

7. BOYHOOD (Richard Linklater)

6. NO COUNTRY FOR OLD MEN (The Coen Brothers)

5. WET HOT AMERICAN SUMMER (David Wain)

4. THE DEPARTED (Martin Scorsese)

3. REQUIEM FOR A DREAM  (Darren Aronofsky)

2. THE ROYAL TENENBAUM’S (Wes Anderson)

1. ADAPTATION (Spike Jonze)

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Travis Keune   (We Are Movie Geeks)

10. THE ASSASSINATION OF JESSE JAMES BY THE COWARD ROBERT FORD (Andrew Dominik)

9. PANS LABYRINTH (Guillermo Del Toror)

8. INGLOURIOUS BASTERDS (Quentin Tarantino)

7. DRIVE (Nicolas Winding Refn)

6. MAD MAX FURY ROAD (George Miller)

5. THE WRESTLER (Darren Aronofsky)

4. OH BROTHER WHERE ART THOUGH? (The Coen Brothers)

3. MEMENTO (Christopher Nolan)

2. ETERNAL SUNSHINE OF THE SPOTLESS MIND (Michel Gondry)

1. THERE WILL BE BLOOD (Paul Thomas Anderson)

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Cate Marquis   (We Are Movie Geeks, The Jewish Light)

10. 12 YEARS A SLAVE (Steve McQueen)

9. A VERY LONG ENGAGEMENT (Jean-Pierre Jeunet)

8. THE DEPARTED (Martin Scorsese)

7. AMELIE (Jean-Pierre Jeunet)

6. THE PIANIST (Roman Polanski)

5. GRAND BUDAPEST HOTEL (Wes Anderson)

4. PAN’S LABYRINTH (Guillermo Del Toror)

3. INGLOURIOUS BASTERDS (Quentin Tarantino)

2. OH BROTHER WHERE ART THOUGH? (The Coen Brothers)

1. MEMENTO (Christopher Nolan)

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Matt Myers  (Allied Advertising)

10. LORD OF THE RINGS THE TWO TOWERS (Peter Jackson)

9. THERE WILL BE BLOOD (Paul Thomas Anderson)

8. FANTASTIC MR. FOX (Wes Anderson)

7. NO COUNTRY FOR OLD MEN (The Coen Brothers)

6. ETERNAL SUNSHINE OF THE SPOTLESS MIND (Michael Gondry)

5. MAD MAX FURY ROAD (George Miller)

4. MULHOLLAND DRIVE (David Lynch)

3. AMÉLIE (Jean-Pierre Jeunet)

2. KILL BILL (Quentin Tarantino)

1. SYNECDOCHE NEW YORK (Charlie Kaufman)

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Max Foizey (ZekeFilm)

10. (500) DAYS OF SUMMER (Marc Webb)

9. OH BROTHER WHERE ART THOU (The Coen Brothers)

8. CROUCHING TIGER HIDDEN DRAGON (Ang Lee)

7. ATONEMENT (Joe Wright)

6. UP (Pete Docter)

5. CLOSER (Mike Nichols)

4. BLACK SWAN (Darren Aronofsky)

3. THERE WILL BE BLOOD (Paul Thomas Anderson)

2. MULHOLLAND DRIVE (David Lynch)

1. THE LEGO MOVIE (Phil Lord)

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Sandy Olmsted

10. THE FAIRY ( Dominique Abel)

9. THE ARTIST (Michel Hazanavicius)

8. PARANORMAN (Chris Butler)

7. PAN’S LABYRINTH (Guillermo Del Toror)

6. MIDNIGHT IN PARIS (Woody Allen)

5. LITTLE MISS SUNSHINE ( Jonathan Dayton)

4. HUGO (Martin Scorsese)

3. FRUITVALE STATION (Ryan Coogler)

2. HOCOLAT (Lasse Hallström)

1. BEASTS OF THE SOUTHERN WILD (Benh Zeitlin)

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Carl Middleman (KFTK – 97.1FM)

10. BLACK SWAN (Darren Aronofsky)

9. MULHOLLAND DRIVE (David Lynch)

8. (500) DAYS OF SUMMER (Marc Webb)

7. ETERNAL SUNSHINE OF THE SPOTLESS MIND (Michel Gondry)

6. CLOSER (Mike Nichols)

5. UP (Pete Docter)

4. OH BROTHER WHERE ART THOU? (The Coen Brothers)

3. CROUCHING TIGER HIDDEN DRAGON (Ang Lee)

2. MEMENTO (Christopher Nolan)

1. THE LEGO MOVIE (Phil Lord)

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Jim Tudor  (ZekeFilm, ScreenAnarchy)

10. BUBBA HO-TEP (Don Coscarelli)

9. HOLY MOTORS (Leos Carax)

8. ALMOST FAMOUS (Cameron Crowe)

7. MAD MAX FURY ROAD (George Miller)

6. MULHOLLAND DRIVE (David Lynch)

5. HER (Spike Jonze)

4. THE INCREDIBLES (Brad Bird)

3. STAR WARS EPISODE III REVENGE OF THE SITH (George Lucas)

2. TOY STORY 3 (Lee Unkrich)

1. THE TREE OF LIFE (Terence Malick)

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Dane Marti

10. INTERSTELLAR (Christopher Nolan)

9. INLAND EMPIRE (David Lynch)

8. THE HURT LOCKER (Kathryn Bigelow)

7. MINORITY REPORT (Steven Spielberg)

6. THE REVENANT (Alejandro  Iñárritu)

5. THE ASSASSINATION OF JESSE JAMES BY THE COWARD ROBERT FORD  (Andrew Dominik)

4. LINCOLN (Steven Spielberg)

3. THE AVIATOR (Martin Scorsese)

2. LORD OF THE RINGS RETURN OF THE KING (Peter Jackson)

1. THERE WILL BE BLOOD (Paul Thomas Anderson)

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Ian McDonald  (Allied Advertising)

10.THE LIFE AQUATIC (Wes Anderson)

9. DJANGO UNCHAINED (Quentin Tarantino)

8. CABIN IN THE WOODS (Drew Goddard)

7. PAN’S LABYRINTH (Guillermo del Toro)

6. LET THE RIGHT ONE IN (Tomas Alfredson)

5. HOT FUZZ (Edgar Wright)

4. NO COUNTRY FOR OLD MEN (The Coen Brothers)

3. MAD MAX FURY ROAD (George Miller)

2. SPIDERMAN 2 (Sam Raimi)

1. THE DEPARTED (Martin Scorsese)

 

 

TOP TEN TUESDAY: Kirk’s Top 10 of 2009

2009, for any number of reasons, was a long year.  It had its definite ups and its definite yada-yada-yada.  I’m not worried about that last part right now.  I’m more concerning myself with the happier times, the times I left the theater thinking to myself, “My God, this is why I love doing what I do.  This is the reason I love movies, and I cannot wait until the moment I have this invigorating feeling yet again.”  All of these movies gave me that feeling, some of them more than just once.  Here are my choices for the top 10 movies (my favorite or what I consider the best, take your pick) of 2009.

10. THE HANGOVER

When I left the theater the first time seeing THE HANGOVER, I knew I had just watched a very funny movie, a great comedy that made me laugh more and harder than any film I had seen in years.  What didn’t occur to me until I viewed the film a second time is just how nuanced and successful it is as a film.  The relationships between the characters are superb, and the dynamic of the group as a whole is what makes just about every aspect of the film work wonderfully.   Here are four guys, three goofballs of varying degrees and one straight man, the glue, if you will, who holds it all down to some kind of socially acceptable level.  Now take the straight man out and force the other three to find him.  It’s such a basic idea, and one that writers Jon Lucas & Scott Moore and director Todd Phillips execute with stunning clarity.  Besides, any film that features Mike Tyson air drumming to Phil Collins can never be bad in my book.

SCOTT’S FULL REVIEW

9. DISTRICT 9

If you were not sold that DISTRICT 9 was going to be something not to miss when you heard Peter Jackson had taken it and writer/director Neill Blomkamp under his wing, you had to have been when you saw that first teaser.  Just that awe-inspiring (and it inspired awe in me a great deal) first shot of the teaser when you saw the ship hovering above Johannesburg was selling point enough.  We knew we were in for an exciting thrill ride.  What we weren’t expecting was one of the most enjoyable and unforgettable action films to come along in ages.  Blomkamp’s film has so much more going on under the surface of the surface-level and highly bloody action.  2009 was a stellar year for sci-fi, and DISTRICT 9 was just a very important part of that.  Blomkamp and star Sharlto Copley are going to take off huge in the coming years, but it is going to be extremely difficult for either of them to top the work they put into this film.

MY FULL REVIEW

8. THE COVE

Before seeing THE COVE, all I knew was that it was about a dolphin massacre in Japan and that some considered it a horror film in the truest sense of the word.  What I didn’t realize until I sat down to watch the film was just how moving and incredibly executed an informative story it turned out to be.  Director Louie Psihoyos is not a film director by choice.  He is an activist, and his passion for what he does is seeped into every frame of this film.  It touches on so many aspects of the central story, renown dolphin trainer Ric O’Barry and his crusade to make aware the brutality going on Taiji, Japan.  The film is so  heart wrenching, particularly the final 10-15 minutes, which some animal lovers may not even be able to stomach.  Eye-opening, moving and even quite suspenseful in some places, THE COVE is a film that effortlessly succeeds in the areas every documentary should be aiming.

7. A SERIOUS MAN

I have to be honest, I was not a huge fan of Joel & Ethan Coen’s follow-up to NO COUNTRY FOR OLD MEN.  I felt BURN AFTER READING was comical in places, very stupid in others, and an outright let-down in even more.  With A SERIOUS MAN, they craft a thinking man’s comedy, one that has so much going on just under the surface and hands you very little in the area of tangible narrative.  It is a film that digs deep into the nature of theology, of the eternal questions that make up the universe and the overlying equation that holds us all together.  We aren’t supposed to know the answers.  We aren’t supposed to figure things out.  Just when we think we have some sort of grasp on what the universe is going to throw our way next, a tornado comes out of nowhere, and our world cuts to black.  It’s the difference between knowing the answer and understanding the equation.  The Coens get that, and that, among other things (the casting in this film is spot-on brilliance) is what makes A SERIOUS MAN such an amazing film.

TRAVIS’ FULL REVIEW

6. UP

Can we just accept the fact that, every year, without question, whatever film PIXAR has to offer will instantly go somewhere on the best of the year list?  I’m sure others have grasped that concept long before I have.  I was a naysayer.  I remember hearing about UP and its premise, seeing the first trailer, and thinking it was going to be an ever-loving borefest.  I love, love, love when I find myself wrong on that side of the coin upon seeing a film.  UP is such a heart-warming picture, an adventure of the mind, the body, and the spirit that is made for anyone who has ever dreamed of something greater.  I’ll give you a little hint about that.  Everyone, at some point in their life, has had that dream.  PIXAR knows this, and that is why they make such effortlessly brilliant films for everyone.  An adventurous and moving piece of film making, UP is yet another grand success from a an animated studio who seems able to churn out brilliant story ideas like an assembly line.

MY FULL REVIEW

5. AWAY WE GO

I knew very little about this film going in, just that it was Sam Mendes, a director who I have been following like a loyal dog since 2002’s ROAD TO PERDITION graced before my eyes, and it starred Maya Rudolph and John Krasinski.  Coming out the other side, I knew I had just seen the most uplifting and genuinely optimistic film I had seen all year.  Most “feel good” films are saccharine beyond belief, so full of fake emotion and blithesome idiocy that their hold on the audience is never more than past the first knuckle.  AWAY WE GO takes hold of you, charges you, and spits you out with an ear-to-ear grin across your face.  It does it, too, without false promises, without the hammy movie magic that makes up most films that are considered heartfelt.  It does it with three, simple things: heart, heart, and heart.  The compatibility between Krasinski and Rudolph is astounding, and they embody characters who are the ultimate antithesis to Frank and April Wheeler, the couple in Mendes’ last film, REVOLUTIONARY ROAD.  AWAY WE GO is yet another clear-cut home run from a film maker who knows how to grasp his audience and simply make them feel.  Whether that feeling is going to be cheerful or not is up to him, but, whatever he decides to do, he succeeds.

TRAVIS’ FULL REVIEW

4. FANTASTIC MR. FOX

Say what you want about the controversy surrounding how Wes Anderson handled the direction on FANTASTIC MR. FOX.  What he has achieved here is a next level, in my opinion, in stop motion animation, beautifully crafted characters and environments that aid a truly hilarious screenplay.  What’s more, FANTASTIC MR. FOX is a great film for the family, not a “family film.”  It is, in no way, dumbed down to be more user friendly or acceptable for general audiences.  If you don’t get the humor found in this film, then you simply don’t get it.  Personally, I thought it was non-stop hilarity throughout, and the voice work by actors like George Clooney, Meryl Streep, Bill Murray, and Jason Schwartzman, in particular, is just one more element of FANTASTIC MR. FOX that makes it the best, cussing, animated movie of the year.

TRAVIS’ FULL REVIEW

3. MOON

If your personal tastes in movies run parallel to mine in any way, then you love it when an independently backed science fiction film is on the horizon.  They have to rely more on story than the complex special effects that  overburden  even the simplest of narratives.  Writer/director Duncan Jones’ MOON is one such film, an incredibly compelling and emotionally driven science fiction story that is aided in no small part by luxurious yet practical effects and a hauntingly staggering performance by Sam Rockwell.  This is one film that benefits from going in blind.  The less you know about it before viewing, the better, as every twist and turn Jones’ story takes is both conceivable and unanticipated.  As confidently crafted a film as MOON is, you would not think that A) it is considered a low-budget film and B) it is Duncan Jones’ first attempt at feature film making.  Be on the lookout for this man in the future, because, dare I say it, I feel we may have another Christopher Nolan on our hands.

MY FULL REVIEW

2. INGLOURIOUS BASTERDS

After watching, or should I say “experiencing”, INGLOURIOUS BASTERDS for the first time, I couldn’t help but think I had just seen Quentin Tarantino’s best written film since PULP FICTION.  Now, some months and a few more viewings of the film later, I am of the opinion that this could easily be the best film yet of an auteur who holds back on nothing.  INGLOURIOUS BASTERDS is an outstanding film driven by both amazing dialog (as if there was any question of that) and visually stunning action.  The scenes Tarantino crafts in his first endeavor into the genre of war are filled with so much suspense and anxious expectation that he often teases you with the notion that nothing may happen.  He’s also a film maker who loves playing with his audience, and just as you are about to rest comfortably, all hell breaks loose.  Without revealing too many spoilers for the film, I will say that, for a man who loves bending and breaking the rules of film making, I cannot imagine the look of glee on Tarantino’s face when it dawned on him to break the rules of history, as well.  INGLOURIOUS BASTERDS is an amazing achievement in film craftsmanship from a writer/director who seems poised to top himself every time out of the gate.

SCOTT’S FULL REVIEW

1. 2012

Shit blowed up real good!

REAL #1. (500) DAYS OF SUMMER

If there were 1000 words that all meant emotional and genuine, I would use each and every one of them here to describe (500) DAYS OF SUMMER, probably the most authentic and moving look at a relationship in years.  Director Marc Webb, another first-time director, and screenwriters Scott Neustadter and Michael H. Weber have created and executed a luring and eloquent tale of the real way we think back on past loves.  We don’t remember them from beginning to end, from meeting to the final look upon one another.  Past loves are remembered in fits and starts, happy times here and gloomier days there, and, sometimes, even the same moments are remembered differently depending on our own attitudes at the time.  The film makers behind (500) DAYS OF SUMMER get this.  They know that, somedays, you feel like dancing in the street, like everyone around you is dressed in the same shade that matches the eyes of the person you love.  Other days, you feel like standing in your kitchen and unemotionally smashing every dish in your cupboard.  What’s more, the performances of Joseph Gordon-Levitt and Zooey Deschanel are flawless, and they are easily two of the best actors working today.  Throw in a few, exquisite songs by Regina Spektor and one of the most revealing and realistically affecting scenes that compare real life to expectation, and you have not only my favorite film of the year, but, perhaps, one of the most amazing films about love I have ever seen.

MY FULL REVIEW

Also, check out this music video that is not found in the film, but serves as a brilliant companion to it:

Review: A SERIOUS MAN

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No matter how normal, no matter how pleasant or safe our lives feel at any given moment — the sobering truth of it all remains that anything can happen at any time, for any reason and without even the slightest hint of logic or reasoning. This fact of life could hardly be more present within the Coen Brothers new film A SERIOUS MAN.

The film opens with a quote. Pay attention, as it serves it’s purpose in the enigmatic story of a man trying to make sense of his life, past, present and future. No, this isn’t a retelling of A CHRISTMAS CAROL… that comes later this year and is animated. In fact, it’s been suggested that the film is actually a modern retelling of the Book of Job. Regardless, A SERIOUS MAN is a story about how the universe works and how it doesn’t always work in our favor. Call it chance, fate, whatever… the point is, none of us have any control over anything.

The opening scene takes us into an era past, serving more as an allegory for the film to come, but also sets up the tone of A SERIOUS MAN and gets our minds headed down the right path, even if we have no idea what the path is… even after the film ends. The story itself takes place in 1967 and follows a series of events in the life of Larry Gopnik (Michael Stuhlbarg), an average, mild-mannered Jewish family man and physics professor. Larry is a relatively quiet and decent man, but when his life begins to fall apart around him, one jaw-dropping piece at a time, he finds himself questioning everything.

Larry’s wife Judith (Sari Lennick) drops the first bombshell on his fragile existence, introducing the suave yet unlikable character Sy Ableman (Fred Melamed) and starting the chain reaction of mostly unrelated occurrences that will nearly send Larry over the edge. Interwoven into Larry’s story is his son Danny’s (Aaron Wolff) story, which runs it’s own course until the end when his story comes full circle, acting as the catalyst for an altogether brilliant ending in true Coen Brothers style.

Speaking of the ending, the [fill in the blank] which appears in the final scene actually serves as a sort of metaphor, representing one potential answer to Larry’s primary question. You know, the question all of mankind has been asking for countless generations, the one that civilizations across the globe have repeatedly attempted to answer. On a side note, the film is already garnering the usual praise for the Coen Brothers as masters of their craft, but is also raising hackles amidst some who feel the film mocks the Jewish faith. To those whom find this film offensive, and with no assumptions as to any real understanding of such feelings, I simply ask with all due respect… Why so serious?

Stuhlbarg (BODY OF LIES) is very good in A SERIOUS MAN. The film is deeply rooted within the Jewish faith and culture, but really is not exclusive to this setting. This is a story that could happen to anyone. That’s not to say there isn’t plenty to learn about the Jewish experience from this film, but try not to allow this element to get in the way. Joel and Ethan Coen have clearly implemented the cardinal rule of writing… to write what you know.

The dialogue utilizes a frequent use of the Hebrew language, but in small does sprinkled throughout the film. I found this element extremely well-placed, adding a certain cultural spice and intrigue. The film makes no effort to explain these terms, but they are integrated in a way that allows the audience to put two and two together and not get lost or confused. I appreciate this common thread by the Coen Brothers’ to challenge audiences with their films, but not in a pretentious way.

Perhaps one of the most surprising and enjoyable parts of A SERIOUS MAN is the performance given by Richard Kind (THE GRAND, THE VISITOR) as Larry brother, affectionately referred to as Uncle Arthur. He lives with Larry and his family, has an awkwardly inconvenient medical condition and serves as one of various unlikely sources of insight for Larry in his painfully relentless search for answers.

Richard Kind delivers a performance with range and realism. As an audience, we find ourselves feeling sorry for him, being annoyed by him and yet also find him oddly likable. While I certainly feel Richard Kind is deserving a spot amidst the Oscar nominations for Best Supporting Actor, he unfortunately is overshadowed by Christoph Waltz’s performance in INGLOURIOUS BASTERDS.

Despite the initial impression going in of a story that sounds potentially slow, drab or boring, A SERIOUS MAN is anything but, as true Coen Brothers fans will attest. This film has plenty of energy, an even mixture of serious comedy and comically dramatic moments, with a tiny pinch of the darker side of things for flavor. And, for those serious Coen Brothers fans, A SERIOUS MAN also features a few staples for our enjoyment.

Carter Burwell (FARGO, ADAPTATION) makes this the 13th film he’s scored for the Coen Brothers and does so with great success. Roger Deakins (THE SHAWSHANK REDEMPTION, KUNDUN) also returns as the impeccable cinematographer he is, making this his 10th time behind the camera for the Coen Brothers. Just for fun, listen closely to catch the reference to the Coen Brothers’ last film BURN AFTER READING.

Overall, A SERIOUS MAN is a funny but honest film that makes us think. It’s an enigmatic ride, but one that’s eerily familiar, if not exaggerated a bit for our own viewing pleasure. The film begins and ends strongly, and maintains it’s strength throughout. The ending, in particular, hits like a ton of slightly enlightened bittersweet bricks. On the scale of audience accessibility, A SERIOUS MAN falls somewhere between NO COUNTRY FOR OLD MEN and O BROTHER WHERE ART THOU, but I highly recommend any who finds this fearful to overcome that fear.

TIFF09: Coen Bros. A Serious Man Cast ‘In Conversation’

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The Coen Bros. are back with A Serious Man, a film that sticks out like a sore thumb in the Toronto International Film Festival (TIFF) because of it’s title directors, yet has a relatively unknown cast. MakingOf sat down at TIFF and conducted an In Conversation that reveals to us a little more about who the cast is (Richard Kind, Sari Lennick, and Michael Stuhlbarg). They have fun discussing the laborious Jewish casting process and working with the Coen Bros.

A Serious Trailer for ‘A Serious Man’

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The Coen Brothers just keep churning them out.   I think they’re in competition with Soderbergh and Woody Allen to see who can get the quickest turnaround on their shoots.   Allen’s winning in terms of quantity, but it seems the Coens are winning the battle in the quality department.

Their latest film, ‘A Serious Man,’ has this new trailer released.   It stars Michael Stuhlbarg as a Jewish professor in the Midwest of the late ’60s.   He watches as his life unravels after his wife leaves him, because his annoying brother won’t move out of the house.

Check out the trailer for yourself:

It comes out on October 2nd in limited release.   It also stars Richard Kind and Adam Arkin.   You can expect Soderbergh and Allen to respond with five or six feature films of their own.

Source: Apple

Coen brothers tag two little knowns …

I am always looking for the next bit of news regarding Joel and Ethan Coen and their newest films. I love these guys! The brothers Coen are perhaps the greatest auteur filmmakers working today and have plenty of years of fantastic filmmaking left under their belts. While I sit and patiently await the release of ‘Burn After Reading’, I can now put faces to the billing of their next film called ‘A Serious Man’. Relative unknowns by most, the film will star Michael Stuhlgard (primarily a stage actor) and Richard Kind (‘Spin City’, ‘For Your Consideration’).

Production is set to begin some time in September in Minneapolis, Minnesota.

[Set in 1967, story centers on Larry Gopnik (Stuhlbarg), a Midwestern professor whose life begins to unravel when his wife sets out to leave him and his socially inept brother (Kind) won’t move out of the house.] — Hollywood Reporter